The Hong Kong Design Centre recently launched a new initiative, Fashion Asia, to reinforce Hong Kong’s role as the Asian hub for fashion trade and business development.

“Nowadays fashion brand creation is not only about the design or the product itself,” says Dr Edmund Lee, the centre’s executive director. “Innovative design, a creative mindset and a range of knowledge... are genuinely needed in charting the future of the Hong Kong fashion industry. Fashion Asia endeavours to serve as a strong pillar to nurture talents in the region.”

One part of Fashion Asia is an exhibition, “10 Asian Designers to Watch”, open to the public until December 4. Unlike the Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s Hong Kong fashion week and exhibition, with their focus on factories and manufacturing, the project, at PMQ’s The Qube in Central, is intended as a showcase for the region’s most promising design talents, from countries such as South Korea, Japan, Malaysia and China. Among the 10 designers are Japan’s Facetasm, Hong Kong’s Jourden, China’s Angel Chen and Malaysia’s Edmund Ooi.

All 10 designers have achieved critical success and recognition from their peers. Facetasm and Jourden, for instance, were in the running for the coveted LVMH Prize that honours young fashion designers around the world. Edmund Ooi debuted in Milan Fashion Week last year with the support of Giorgio Armani. Angel Chen was included in Forbes “30 under 30” list, and has shown in both London and Paris.

The exhibition space features a futuristic backdrop of blue, purple and red neon lights and cubic metal frames.

Visitors can see up close KYE’s oversized jacket with extensive lace-up details, Angel Chen’s oversized jacket hoodies adorned with gecko-shaped appliqués, and extravagantly flared pants from Facetasm, among others.